What do you use to polish finished rods after use? Do you polish them? I use a light coat of turtle wax to act as a barrier of orts between the rod and the salt spray, fish scales and such.
I've been asked by a local fishing club to take part in a round table dicussion on all things saltwater fishing.

Carnauba Wax

Years ago in the FL Keys I saw an old timer spray his entire rig including the reel with WD40.
Seems to do well, I've used it since.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

I have been using Pledge. Spray it on a rag,,wipe down the rod ,use a dry cotton cloth ( old "T" shirt ) to polish it with. Works great for me and shines it up good, even covers the tiny scratches and scuff marks. Looks like new.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Pledge works great, with one exception. It's a cleaner before a protectant. That and I hate the greasy feeling it leaves behind, and would much rather a slick smooth surface.

I use Meguiars highest gloss carnuba was personally. Works well for 3-4 trips on salt spray. After 3-4 trips, it NEEDS a recoat. My rods are only rinsed after each trip, and occasionally to wait an extra day before the rinse. This is the best solution for me that I have found to work.

WD 40 is a "water displacement" chemical. I am a gun guy, and have seen guns that have been sprayed with WD-40 for years, and placed back in storage. The WD-40 will form a sticky varnish when it dries.

Spray the rod and guides off with house hold water. Pay attention to the guides so they are really flushed. Set the rod aside to get really dry ( I had a bamboo rod that wasn't dry, and developed "slime" on the cork grips). I coat the whole rod with Johnson paste wax, and set it aside to dry. Once the wax "hazes", polish it off, and run another coat. If the rod and or guides are really nasty, you can use Birchwood @#$%& Stocksheen. This is a really fine polishing compound, and follow it with the paste wax.

I'm with Mike, WD-40 will ruin a gun if left on it for any period of time. It will displace the water, but MUST be cleaned off at the first opportunity. It will gum up a trigger mechanism.
I used to use Lemon Pledge to clean the bugs, etc. off the wind screen (plexiglass) on the airplane. It will not scratch the softest of surfaces & do a remarkable job of cleaning.

flitz polish gun guys should know of this stuff to they make different ones for stainless or blueing its ablend of carnuba bees wax and other cleaners works great as a cleaner and protectant and unlike wd-40 repeles dust and dirt works great on guns meataL wood fihing rod reels and improves casting distance when used to polish the guids and spool of a spinning rod this stuff is a sportsmans best friend when it comes to keeping his toys and tools in good condition

Only carnuba

I agree with Herb. I use a tp quality carnuba past floor wood wax. Never use a polish or wax that has cleaners, cleaners after a time will dull the finish. I warm my wax tell it is almost liquid. Then using a soft towel I apply a light coat apply a light coat. set it aside tell it hazes over, then using a soft towel I polish to a high sheen

Good Wraps Bob

Astroshield, its an airplane polish and glaze. It has no wax so there is no film. It also covers minor scrathes and cleans the rod.

Vern is Astroshield a silicon type stuff?

Good Wraps Bob

According to their website Astroshield contains ... Cleaners, Solvents, Emulsifiers, Gloss Producers, Inhibitors, Lubricators, Bonding Agents, and Surfactants.